District Heating Eco Energías (dhecoenergias), founded in 2018, specializes in the development, construction, and management of district heating and cooling networks in Spain, utilizing renewable energy sources. The company was established by professionals with over 25 years of experience in facility engineering. In November 2024, the global low-carbon energy and services leader, Engie, acquired District Heating Eco Energías, a move that strengthens Engie’s position in the urban heating and cooling network market.
The company’s B2B model is centered on transitioning Spanish cities from traditional fossil fuel-based heating to more sustainable systems. They implement district heating networks that generate energy from sources like solar thermal, biomass from forest pruning, and olive pits. This approach is primarily focused on municipalities in the colder regions of Spain, from Madrid northward, where there is a higher demand for heating. The firm studies cities, then engineers, develops, constructs, and operates these heat networks, often establishing a local company for each project.
Revenue is generated by supplying heating and hot water to residential buildings and public and private facilities connected to the network. The core service is providing a continuous supply of heating and domestic hot water 24/7. The system involves a central plant that generates thermal energy, which is then distributed through a network of underground insulated pipes to connected buildings. This eliminates the need for individual boilers in buildings. Customers benefit from a significant reduction in their energy bills, with savings reported to be between 20% and 25%.
Additional advantages include a reduction in maintenance costs by up to 50%, increased property value through better energy certification, and improved safety by removing combustion elements from homes. The company has active projects in several Spanish cities, including Palencia, Ávila, and Zamora, and has studied over 40 other cities for potential implementation. Keywords: district heating, renewable energy, biomass heating, solar thermal, energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, urban energy, central heating networks, cleantech, Spain energy market, Engie subsidiary, heat networks, energy efficiency, CO2 reduction, sustainable urban development, Palencia, Ávila, Zamora, heating as a service, green energy